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VL Mod shout out! Nova 8B/Optimus 5B

salt h2o fly said:
Anybody still on this thread? I just found AK site, and love all the posts regarding the ARS equipment.

My dad bough an STA-180 receiver with Nova-8 speakers new as part of a package (in 1972, evidently) and I've always loved the sound of this system.
It was the stereo I grew up with, and I have many fond memories hearing The Beatles, The Hollies, Elvis, Barbara Streisand, etc. coming through those speakers.
I know I am biased, but I was always put off when people would say that the radio shack stereos were cheap, and don't measure up to the really high end equipment (Klipsch, Advent, etc...).
Realistically speaking (excuse the pun) I suppose there are finer specimens of audio equipment out there which I might collect or refurbished,
but I LOVE that ARS has a following here, and I'm inspired to rebuild these speakers ... and maybe even do a little work on the reciever ... maybe as a project with/for my soon-to-be 10yr old daughter.

So ... first things first ... am I crazy to think the sound coming out of this system would compare to what I might expect out of my other "old" stereo receiver (a ~15 yr.old Harman Kardon AVR-20)?
I just hooked up the speakers to both, and the HK actually seems to make them sound a little thin. (though there are noticebly fewer crackles & pops than when I move dials on the ARS)

Any bets on how the Nova-8s would compare with a pair of Klipsch RF-82 ii speakers (which I just scored at Fry's Electronics on clearance for $198 apiece)? I haven't opened up the new speakers yet,
as I've gotten distracted with the idea of refurbing this vintage system from my childhood.

As for the refurb work, I'm not sure where to begin.
I am a mechanical engineer, and know relatively little about electronics and electrical circuitry, so I'm hoping people can point me to the simplest of instructions on how to go about this project.

Secondly ... are all these mods (for the Nova-8 speakers) just to do with the crossovers, or
Does anybody ever replace the drivers?
(I'm concerned they foam may be in bad shape, and or the drivers have suffered from age -- especially as these poor speakers sat in a garage for 3 year and were exposed to some weather.)

Maybe I should start with this simple question on the speakers:
How do I get the grills off these things? (without damaging anything)?
Click to expand...
The grills are held in place with four small phillips head screws in the corners.

First step in a refurb is to recap the crossover. Just use PE dayton brand lytics w/maybe a bypass for the tweeter. Deoxit the pots while you're in there.

Make sure the surrounds haven't stiffened up. If still supple, some AR redoping might be in order. If stiff, the need to be cleaned of old dope and resealed. The older cast frame 7 series are prone to the stiffening, but not sure if the 8's suffer the same fate. My 8's just needed to be resealed.

Depending on cabinets, you may want to sand and reoil w/ danish oil.


To take them to the next level, replace tweeters w/tweeters from 5b's or 8b's, then build new crossovers ala videolady mods.

Hope this helps.
 
Thanks, Drumbum.
I’ll try pulling the grills off tomorrow and have a peek.

I guess I’ll start looking for replacement drivers
To see if I can get the Nova-8b type. Does anyone make them new, or do I have to hope I can find an original pair that is still in good shape?

By the eway, I measured the resistance across the terminals and one speaker can in at 8.3 ohms, while the other was about 8.9.
 
salt h2o fly said:
Thanks, Drumbum.
I’ll try pulling the grills off tomorrow and have a peek.

I guess I’ll start looking for replacement drivers
To see if I can get the Nova-8b type. Does anyone make them new, or do I have to hope I can find an original pair that is still in good shape?

By the eway, I measured the resistance across the terminals and one speaker can in at 8.3 ohms, while the other was about 8.9.
Click to expand...
Why start looking for replacement drivers?
 
#12

My second electronics project was building the videolady xovers for my Nova 8B's. A subtle yet-veil lifting change. Not sure they are the best match to my Voice of Music 1428. Picking up a pair of Wharfedale w60d's tomorrow. Can't keep two pairs of speakers though... ;(
 
Hey all...

I am to pick up 5Bs today or tomorrow, i was going through the long thread, can't seem to find a doc or schematic for the new crossover, anyone know a link?

Thanks and have a great day!
 
robmorin said:
Hey all...

I am to pick up 5Bs today or tomorrow, i was going through the long thread, can't seem to find a doc or schematic for the new crossover, anyone know a link?

Thanks and have a great day!
Click to expand...
Did you find what you were looking for in other thread? There is a post somewhere in the page 40s I think that spells out the important posts to look back at if you are interested to do the mod.
 
Videolady201 wrote this about the Nova 8B vs the Optimus 5B:
"I believe they are the exact same speaker in every way other than the cabinet and the grill cover!! If I had a pair of the Optimus 5bs I would put this new crossover in it in a heart beat!!:yes:"

Here's a link to the crossover schematic:

index.php


From post #41 here:

Realistic Nova 8b Rebuild & Crossover Re-Design

Parts List & Wiring Diagram for Xover Here is a link to the parts list: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=218018&d=1277875249 Also, attached is the wiring diagram for the Cross Over.:yes:
audiokarma.org

I've never worked on a pair or heard any of the better Radio Shack speakers.
 
Pete B said:
Videolady201 wrote this about the Nova 8B vs the Optimus 5B:
"I believe they are the exact same speaker in every way other than the cabinet and the grill cover!! If I had a pair of the Optimus 5bs I would put this new crossover in it in a heart beat!!:yes:"

Here's a link to the crossover schematic:

index.php


From post #41 here:

Realistic Nova 8b Rebuild & Crossover Re-Design

Parts List & Wiring Diagram for Xover Here is a link to the parts list: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=218018&d=1277875249 Also, attached is the wiring diagram for the Cross Over.:yes:
audiokarma.org

I've never worked on a pair or heard any of the better Radio Shack speakers.
Click to expand...
The Optimus 1B's and 5B's, Nova 7B, 8B's do sound good. Even the small Optimus 2B and Nova 6's with 8" woofers sound pretty good.
I've owned Optimus 1B's and still have a pair of 2B's.
 
This past weened I added another pair of 5b to my collection. As well as a set of Mach One's. I've already started a thread for that. It will be a while before I begin the restores, but looking forward to it. I've done both, the Mach One's and the 8b. I lost count of what I have.
 
Copa1934 said:
This past weened I added another pair of 5b to my collection. As well as a set of Mach One's. I've already started a thread for that. It will be a while before I begin the restores, but looking forward to it. I've done both, the Mach One's and the 8b. I lost count of what I have.
Click to expand...
I just have a pair of Optimus 2B's and Nove 7B's at the moment.
I'm still looking for a pair of 5B's or 8B's. The Nove 7B's I have sound better after doing a simar "VL" mod to them. Adding a coil to the woofer along with a bypass cap.across it, and reversing the phase of the tweeters.
They sound better now.
 

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Newbie here from Ontario. I just bought four 5B for $180. Nice shape, decent sounding, and fair price from a guy. Anybody build these updated crossovers? I would be interested in getting the most out of these speakers. Cheers Al
 
I haven't yet. Still looking for a pair. But what I plan on doing is keep the original crossovers. They unscrew from the inside of the cabinet, then give them a bump from the outside to knock them loose from the gasket.
Recap them and leave them stock otherwise. Then build the new VL mod crossovers on pieces of thin 1/8" plywood, etc to make the new crossovers on and attach them. That way if you don't like the VL mod, you can put the freshly recapped original crossovers back in. :thumbsup:
 
Lavane said:
I haven't yet. Still looking for a pair. But what I plan on doing is keep the original crossovers. They unscrew from the inside of the cabinet, then give them a bump from the outside to knock them loose from the gasket.
Recap them and leave them stock otherwise. Then build the new VL mod crossovers on pieces of thin 1/8" plywood, etc to make the new crossovers on and attach them. That way if you don't like the VL mod, you can put the freshly recapped original crossovers back in. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Thank Lavane, im great at tearing things appart. Another member i believe said even just replacing the tweeter with a RS super tweeter would make a difference also.
 
northsoundal said:
Thank Lavane, im great at tearing things appart. Another member i believe said even just replacing the tweeter with a RS super tweeter would make a difference also.
Click to expand...
I don't know if I would replace the tweeters with a super tweeter myself.
The super tweeter was meant to be more of an added on I believe?
A nice soft dome tweeter, not mylar, would make for a nice replacement.
Silk dome, doped cloth, etc. Most of my speakers have soft domes.
10 pairs out of the 15 or so I own have soft domes. The rest have paper cone and phenolic ring tweeters.
 
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